Banquo

• Banquo operates as a foil to Macbeth in the play
• A foil is a character who contrasts another character to highlight certain things about them
• Both Banquo and Macbeth are captains in the army referred to by Duncan as "our captains Macbeth and Banquo" in Act 1, Scene 2
• Both are brave warriors as explained by the sergeant in the same scene
• Duncan refers to Banquo as noble in Act 1, Scene 4
• Following meeting the witches in Act 1, Scene 3, Macbeth receives three prophecies including becoming king, while Banquo receives a prophecy that his descendants will be kings
• Banquo is skeptical and wary of the witches' prophecies
• Banquo does not succumb to the prophecies in the same way as Macbeth due to not having the same ambition or fatal flaw
• Shakespeare alters Banquo's character from his source material to paint him in a more positive light
• Banquo's resistance to evil and his goodness ultimately cost him his life
• Banquo's wisdom and good nature are acknowledged by Macbeth in Act 3, Scene 1
• Banquo's character complements Macbeth by highlighting Macbeth's downfall
• Banquo is a more complex character than he may seem, with actions and indecision that paint him as neither all good nor all evil